Recovering from Religion

"Recovering from Religion" is an international community for those who have questions or doubts about their faith. We aren’t here to talk you out of or into faith, just provide a safe place to examine what you believe. And perhaps, why you believe it.

Your hosts, authors Tim Rymel, M.Ed., and Bill Prickett, will bring guests who've experienced harm from extreme religious beliefs and practices, as well as experts who can offer help, hope and healing.

We were excited for our first interview with a married couple!
Sarah Austin, a transgender woman, grew up in a small town as a “vanilla Christian” working in conservative talk radio. Her wife Becca grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness. Sarah and Becca married before Sarah’s transition. Together, they host the SarahTalk Podcast where they discuss “all the things you shouldn’t talk about at work.”
Sarah and Becca share their story of facing faith and gender identity issues as a couple in love.
Before the interview, Bill and Tim discuss the recent news stories about televangelist Ernest Angley, and Bill relates a personal anecdote about Angley's church.
SarahTalk Podcast: http://www.sarahtalk.com/

Tim and Bill discuss the many ways people re-examine, and often abandoned, their faith, as well as the many emotions that go with it.
Then they’re joined by Luke King, a former Four-Square, Pentecostal Pastor and now host of the “Your Atheist Pastor" podcast that provides a place for those who’ve left their faith.
Luke is also a speaker, a blogger and a yoga instructor.
In this engaging episode Luke tells his story, why he still sees himself as a pastor, and how yoga helped transform his self-image.
(And wait until you hear about his Instagram account!)
Luke’s podcast: youratheistpastor.org

Lloyd Evans is a much sought-after expert on Jehovah's Witnesses, the religion of his upbringing. He’s the founder of JWsurvey.org, and author of “The Reluctant Apostate” which is both a memoir and a reference guide. He points to JW’s as just one example of the harm that can be inflicted when religious authority goes unchecked. Since 2011, Lloyd has been a passionate advocate against cults and religious fundamentalism. Lloyd's YouTube channel (under the name John Cedars) has 12,000+ subscribers and has attracted more than 2.5 million views.
Website: https://jwsurvey.org/welcome
YouTube channel: https://goo.gl/Rly2CP

To start off 2019, our guests are Dr. Darrel Ray, the psychologist and author who founded Recovering from Religion and currently serves as president, and Gayle Jordan, an attorney who works as our executive director.
These two tireless leaders tell their own story, and we also get insights into what led to the formation of RfR, the services offered, and how people can get involved. Before the end of the interview, we ask each of them about their hopes for the new year.
Website: RecoveringfromReligion.org
RfR Resources: https://goo.gl/4koWwx

Who earns a Masters degree in Theological Studies…as an atheist? Cass Midgley did! But his infatuation with God began much earlier. As a boy, he knew there was a God, and they were good friends. As a teen, he discovered there were many Christianities, and he determined to find the right one…or start his own. As an adult, he began asking questions. Eventually, he left the church altogether.
Cass is now one of the hosts of the “Everyone’s Agnostic” podcast, and also serves as a Humanist Chaplain.
Links are for information purposes only to supplement the podcast content. RfR does not endorse this or any religious organization.
Cass’ Website: everyonesagnostic.com

In the 70s and 80s, a prominent and influential name among Fundamental / Evangelical Christians was Bill Gothard, and his Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts seminars. Thousands of people would fill auditoriums to hear his "Biblical Principles of Life."
Blogger and speaker, Micah J. Murray, recounts what it was like growing up under the teachings of Gothard, being homeschooled using Gothard’s controversial curriculum, and working in Gothard’s authoritarian organization.
We also talk to him about the scandal that essential destroyed the organization. Micah is blunt about the dangers of Gothard's teachings, why he walked away, and his work in educating others.
The following links are for information purposes only to supplement the podcast content. RfR does not endorse this or any religious organization.
Micah's website: https://micahjmurray.com/
Recovering Grace: https://goo.gl/fsnR5h

At one time, John Smid was one the most well-known names in “ex-gay” leadership, as the Executive Director of the country’s largest Conversion Therapy programs. These days, he lives a quiet live with his husband in a small town in Texas, and spends his time as a craftsman and custom furniture maker.
John is currently back in the spotlight, as one of the main characters in the movie “Boy Erased” is loosely based on him.
The REAL John Smid talks about his anger at the Fundamental theology that trapped him for so long, how he deals with his role as a former Conversion Therapy leader, and what he’s done to personally recover and move his life forward.
The following links are for information purposes only to supplement the podcast content. RfR does not endorse this or any religious organization.
John's book: https://goo.gl/e8ZhF6
"Grace Rivers" http://www.gracerivers.com/
"Grace Rivers" Facebook: https://goo.gl/iwuWQm
J & L Creative Design: https://goo.gl/dKjECp

Author Yvette Cantu Schneider recalls her work as policy analyst for the right-wing, politico-religious organization, the Family Research Council, and shares the family crisis that forced her to re-examine her faith.
You can find Yvette's book, "Never Not Broken" here: https://tinyurl.com/y6twaoyl

Hosts Tim Rymel and Bill Prickett were both once involved in Conversion Therapy, and they discuss the new movie, “Boy Erased,” based on the true story of a young man who’s sent to a program that promises to change his sexual orientation.
(cf: https://youtu.be/-B71eyB_Onw)
TimRymel.com
BillPrickett.com